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We all have our Goliaths, our own giants to face in life. We all have spiritual battles to fight with a very real enemy who wants nothing more than our utter defeat. The Bible tells us to put on the armor of God but do you often find yourself facing your Goliath in someone else’s armor?
Put on the Armor of God – A Shepherd Boy
David was a young shepherd boy, the son of Jesse. He had three brothers who had gone to war alongside King Saul against the Philistines. Goliath was their champion. He was a giant who would come out each day and taunt the Israelites. He would challenge them to send someone to fight him. But not only would no one step up to battle this giant, they fled.
Jesse asked David to bring some food to his brothers on the front lines. So David left his sheep in Bethlehem in the care of a shepherd and took off to the Valley of Elah to bring the grain and bread to his brothers.
David Meets Goliath
David arrives and he hears Goliath taunting the Israelites. He asks what will be done for the man who can defeat Goliath. He is told the King will give him great wealth, his daughter in marriage and his family will be tax exempt.
So David tells Saul that he will fight this giant. Saul basically laughs him off because he is just a child. But David essentially gives Saul his resume and tells him of the time he killed a lion and a bear to protect the sheep. He says this “uncircumcised Philistine” is just like a wild animal and that the same God who helped him defeat the lion and bear will allow him to defeat Goliath.
So Saul agrees and dresses David in his armor.
Saul’s Armor
Now King Saul was a very tall man so his armor was not ideal for David. 1 Samuel 17:39 says:
“…and David strapped his sword over his armor. And he tried in vain to go, for he had not tested them. Then David said to Saul, “I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them.” So David put them off.” ESV
Saul’s armor would not work for David because it was too big. It was not meant for David, it was meant for Saul. David tried to make it work but you cannot force someone else’s solution to fit your problem!
All David wanted or needed was the 5 smooth stones he picked up off the ground, his slingshot, and the God of Israel.
David took out Goliath with one shot and cut off his head with his own sword.
David didn’t need Saul’s armor. He only needed to put on the armor of God, the Holy One of Israel.
Put on the Armor of God Instead of Facing Your Goliath in Someone Else’s Armor
Are you coming up against your giants in someone else’s armor?
Are you trying to solve life’s problems and battling the enemy the way someone else advises or the way someone else handled a similar issue, or are you going to God and putting on the only armor you need; the whole armor of God.
The Armor of God
Ephesians 6:10-18:
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.” ESV
Test Everything
God doesn’t want us doing things the way other people have. Sure, we should seek godly counsel but at the end of the day, we have to be sure it is what God wants for us. We need to seek Him in His Word and in prayer. Everything must be measured up against the Word of God.
1 Thessalonians 5:21:
“…but test everything; hold fast what is good.” NIV
Facing your Goliath means that, like David, you have to give the battle to the Lord. Let the Lord go before you into battle!
David did not want to wear Saul’s armor, not only because it was too large, but because it was untested for him. Put on the armor of God, not the armor of man!
Test everything! Don’t assume because something works for someone else that it will work for you!
Don’t try facing your Goliath in someone else’s armor! Let the Lord lead you!
Some other posts like “Put on the Armor of God” you might enjoy:
WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT SPIRITUAL WARFARE
BE WATCHFUL – A WINTRY REMINDER OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE
HOW TO GUARD YOUR HEART AND YOUR MIND TO FIND GOD’S PEACE
DROPS IN THE BUCKET – RECOGNIZING SUBTLE ATTACKS OF THE DEVIL
Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
What a great application for this well known story! I can’t imagine trying to clunk my way to safety (never mind victory! in ill-fitting armor, particularly if I wasn’t used to wearing it. This is such a practical thought for all the times we are tempted to “advise” people on solutions to their problems based on our own individual experience. There’s all kinds of room for God to work in different ways, and we need to respect that.
Amen!! Well said Michele!!
I always love your posts! You made me consider the story of David and Goliath (and Saul) in a different way. I think this is common but problems are not one size fits all. Thank you for this reminder, my friend!
Thank you so much Susan!
Oh girlfriend my heart needed this reminder today! Thank you. Love this post. 🙂
I’m so glad it encouraged you my friend!!
One of my favorite stories of the Bible from since I was a young girl. There are so many truths in this one story!! Great reminders here for me today!!
Thank you so much April!
I love this whole concept. I have never thought of it before! Great post and something I will think of often, I’m sure.
Thank you Heather! So glad you enjoyed it!
H Diane, the more I have studied armor, I am convinced the armor of God is in a sense, the Holy Spirit, and when things are too big for us He steps in. And while even God’s armor may be too big for us, at times,it is a perfect fit to get us to power, love and a sound mind.
Great insight. Thank you Rebecca!
Ooh! Ouch! I have to say, you did it again. Especially as a mother this really resonates with me. Facing my giants, and teaching my boys to face theirs, requires the armor of God, fitted for me in my struggles!
Thank you Aryn!! Amen!!
This is so incredibly powerful! It’s so easy to fight battles in our lives according to someone’s advice or wisdom instead of going to God for guidance and fighting according to HIS wisdom.
Thank you Erin! So glad you enjoyed it!!
Yes! Love the application of this lesson. This is a huge thrust of what we try to do in our ministry – to help people find God’s solution for their problems and fight equipped in His armor for them! We’re so prone to seek out formulas for our problems, but God has made us each unique, and He has given us His living and active Word to show us the way! Thanks Diane!
Thank you so much!! I so appreciate that!! I am glad you enjoyed it!
This is very good, Diane. Too often we try to fight our unique battles with someone else’s armor meant for THEIR battles. God designed our armor specifically for us, knowing what we would need. Thanks for this beautiful reminder to stay in our lane.
Thank you very much Lisa!!
We are neighbors today at Crystals! I came ove to comment on your post-LOVE IT- and found your link up!
Thanks for hosting. And, I love your post.
Thank you for visiting Tammy and so glad you found the link up!!
I loved this post and the title was fabulous. You have given me lots of food for thought. Sometimes I do face my giants in someone else’s armor and it doesn’t work out to well. I have shared and tweeted. I hope you share this on Friday with Grace & Truth. Thank you!
Thank you so much Maree! I most certainly will!!
I have chosen this post to feature this week on Grace & Truth Link-Up. I have pondered all week this post. I realize I am so guilty of trying to get others to wear my armor when they fight their battles. Of course it doesn’t fit them.
Thank you so much Maree!! I’m so glad the post resonated with you! You have blessed me so much!!
This is such an important message! For much of my life, I looked to others to show me how to act and respond to various situations rather than looking to God. It took a crisis of faith for me to recognize who Christ is for ME, and that He is the only One I should look to. Thank you for this post!
Thank you Julie! I’m so glad you found it helpful!
This is such a wonderful read…I like your writing style
Thank you so much!!
What a great insight into this passage, Diana! I’ve often thought about David not needing Saul’s armor but fully trusting in God’s protection, but never really took it to the level of applying this to me or others. It’s so true that we can feel like we need to use someone else’s strategy (armor) to get something done, when God wants us to fully rely on Him. Thanks for this! Pinned and tweeted!
Thank you so much!!!
What an interesting perspective on David and Goliath. So often the focus is in David and Goliath, but a lot can be learned from the interaction between Saul and David. Love the wisdom here.
Thank you so much Crystal!
Wow, I’ve honestly never thought of the story of David and Goliath in this way. Thank you for the reminder that I need to fight with the armor God has designed for me instead of trying to fit into someone else’s!
Thank you so much Sierra! I am glad you enjoyed it!
Really love this! I read it this morning but did not get the chance to comment. God has given us a specific set of skills, insight, and experiences that He needs us to use to fight our individual battles for His glory.
Amen!! Thank you Brittany!!
This was a GREAT read! The title swallowed me in like a tornado. I hope to read much more like this. Was one of the best put together pieces I’ve read.
Thank you so much Sam! I am so glad you enjoyed it!
Love this advice. “Are you trying to solve life’s problems and battling the enemy the way someone else advises or the way someone else handled a similar issue, or are you going to God and putting on the only armor you need; the whole armor of God.” Something I tend to forget. The other thing I do is sometimes I try to keep solving the problem in the same way I have done in the past. Yes, the way that didn’t work.
I do that same thing!! Then I always wonder why it didn’t work THIS time lol